These rankings are used in Texas Hold’em, Omaha and most other standard “high” poker games. Only your best five cards count, and the higher hand on the list always wins.
The ten hands, strongest first
| Rank | Hand | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A-K-Q-J-10, all one suit | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| 2 | Straight flush | Five cards in a row, all one suit | 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ 4♦ |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank | J♣ J♦ J♥ J♠ 3♦ |
| 4 | Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair | 10♥ 10♠ 10♦ 4♣ 4♠ |
| 5 | Flush | Five cards of one suit, not in a row | K♥ J♥ 8♥ 5♥ 2♥ |
| 6 | Straight | Five cards in a row, mixed suits | 9♣ 8♥ 7♠ 6♦ 5♣ |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank | 6♠ 6♥ 6♣ K♦ 9♠ |
| 8 | Two pair | Two different pairs | A♦ A♣ 7♥ 7♠ Q♣ |
| 9 | One pair | Two cards of the same rank | Q♥ Q♠ 10♦ 6♣ 2♥ |
| 10 | High card | None of the above | A♣ J♦ 8♠ 5♥ 3♣ |
The two that trip people up: a flush beats a straight, and a full house beats a flush. The rarer a hand is, the higher it ranks.
Only five cards count
In Hold’em you have seven cards by the river, two in your hand and five on the board. Your hand is the best five of those seven. You can use both hole cards, one, or none.
Example: you hold A♠K♣ and the board is K♦7♣2♥4♠J♦. Your best five are K♣ K♦ A♠ J♦ 7♣: a pair of kings with ace, jack and seven. The 4 and 2 don’t play.
If the board is 9♠9♦9♣9♥A♣, every player still in has four nines with an ace, and the pot is split no matter what anyone holds.
Kickers and ties
When two players have the same kind of hand, compare the cards inside it first, then the leftover cards (kickers), one at a time from the highest.
- Same pair: board Q♣8♦5♠3♥2♣. You hold A♥Q♦, your opponent holds K♠Q♥. Both have a pair of queens. Your ace kicker beats their king.
- Kicker doesn’t play: board A♦A♣K♥K♠Q♦. You hold J♠10♠, your opponent holds 3♣2♣. Both of you play the board’s A-A-K-K-Q. Split pot.
- Two pair: the higher top pair wins. A♠A♦3♣3♥ beats K♠K♦Q♣Q♥.
- Full houses: compare the three-of-a-kind first. 8-8-8-2-2 beats 7-7-7-A-A.
- Flushes: compare the highest card, then the next, and so on. A♥ 9♥ 6♥ 4♥ 2♥ beats K♥ Q♥ J♥ 9♥ 7♥.
Suits never break ties in standard poker. A spade flush and a heart flush with the same ranks split the pot.
Straights and the ace
An ace can be high (10-J-Q-K-A, the highest straight) or low (A-2-3-4-5, called the wheel, the lowest). It can’t be in the middle, so Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight. When two players have straights, the one with the higher top card wins: 6-5-4-3-2 beats the wheel.
Board-reading mistakes to avoid
- Missing a flush on the board. With three hearts out, any two hearts make a flush. With four hearts, one heart does.
- Missing a paired board. On K♠K♦7♣, anyone with a 7 or a K can have a full house by the river.
- Counting six cards. A player with two pair on a board that shows another pair only gets to use the best two pairs plus a kicker.
- Mucking too soon. In a live room, turn your cards face up and let the dealer read the hand.
Once the order is second nature, the next step is asking what the strongest possible hand is on each board. Board texture and draws and outs build on that.
FAQ
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush beats a straight, and a full house beats a flush.
Does suit matter in poker?
No. In standard Hold’em, suits have no rank and never break a tie. Identical hands in different suits split the pot.
Is A-2-3-4-5 a straight?
Yes. It is called the wheel and it is the lowest straight. The ace plays as a one.
What happens if two players have the same hand?
Compare the kickers, the remaining cards in each player’s best five. If all five cards match in rank, the pot is split.
Do three pairs count in Hold’em?
No. Only five cards play, so you use the two highest pairs plus the highest remaining card as a kicker.
Keep going
By the TorontoPoker.org editorial team · Updated September 2026 · 19+ · Play responsibly